Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-06-02
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
The Senate Considering the Subjec
Legislative Matters In General.

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Legislative Matters In General.
The bi to revise, consolidate and amend
the liquor laws was taken up IN the senate
the other afternoon. Mr.. Holbrook of Ing
ham in the chair. Mr.. Hubbell sent up
brief in writing objecting to il as uncon
stitutional, and quoting Judge Cooley, and
various other decisions of the courts of
Maine, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, New
York and Michigan, to show the unconsti-
nationality of the provision In section or
the bill which makes the tax a lien on the
stock and fixtures in any saloon, bar-room,
brewery or distilery at any time after
the tax is due and unpaid for period or
ten days. The argument had its erect
the unconstitutional Ines were struck
out-no one di senting.
Mr.. Hubbell moved to strike out 'hve
years" and insert "one year" as liking the
penalty druggist shall be under for eel
ing liquor in violation OF the terms OF tine
bill-which is to debar him from selling
liquor for a period Of five years ter con
VII ton. He said that the pen lty WAS eI-
cessive, as was also the provision that
drug clerk should be subject to the same
penalties as his employer. Would the
senate derive a man of following Lis pro
fession for such a length OF time for such
an offense. He thought all laws should be
reasonable and have reasonable penalties
otherwise they could not be enforced.
MeSsrS. EuWaTuS. bhDCoCk, anu ~
lowed in argument, and the motion OF Mr..
Hubbell prevailed.
The house committee of the whole has
agreed to the bill of MIR. Rogers of Starry,
making IL the duty Of city and village
marshals, constables, sherins ana other
officers to take particular notice OF viola
tons OF the liquor law aud to make COM
paints accordingly-failing in which any
person of mature age can have the afore
said officers brought to book, arrested
tried, and il found guilty punt he'd by a
for not less than ten days.
The bill Of Mr.. Lakey Of Kalama- 90, that
persons charged upon information or
indictment with assault with intent to
commit murder, rape or robbery, and ac-
Quilted of these crimes tut convicted of
assault and battery merely, shall be pun
ished with imprisonment in the state
pri on not exceeding five years or by fine
not exceeding s., or imprisonment in the
county iaIl not exceeding one year. in the
discretion of the court. has passed tie
house committee of the Whole.
The bill to make cleo ton days legal holi-
days and subject to the provisi ms Of the
law which closes banks, etc, on holiday 3
and make, notes and bills OF exchange
payable the previous day, is now on the
order of third reading.
The house had warm discussion over
Mr. Hosford s bill to carry into eject sec
tion Il of article Is OF the constitution.
relative TO the holding of rea, estate by
corporation. A motion WAS made to
strife out all after the enactng clause
which was defeated. Some OF the great
auded corporations and land grant raj
road companies such as the Portage Lake
q Lake superior ship canal company aud
others have kept attorneys at work here
all the session making ground against the
bill. Its merit, were not discussed today
the debate will come when the bill is on
its third reading and the house IL full.
There is o feeling that the public lands
| ought not to lie held in this way, but
should be offered Tor sale at reasonable
prices and tins feeling will win many
votes for the bill.
The senate has passed a bill appropriat-
ing $4,000 for the state school for girls.
| The prevailing sentiment in the house
| in favor of stringent railroad legislat on
has resulted in passing the Rogers bill.
, This affects freight rates as radically as
| the two-cent ill affects passenger rates.
IT is substantially an application OF the
interstate commerce law to the Michig n
roads. Discrimination favoring Il calities
or shippers is prohibited and mode pun
'ishable by fines up to sl5.0O. The towns
tvestigation by the railroad commissioner,
who establishes the rates which must
thereafter rule. A greater rate cannot lie
charged for "A short distance over the
same line than for a long dist nee Thi-
| provision Is aimed against the discrimina
tion which rural localities cl i'm is made
! in favor of large cities handling through
| freight. Pooling between competing line
is prohibited. The bill passed by n to IL
indicating, the prevailing sentiment
| against railroads. This bill and the two
cent fare bill now 60 TO the tenate.
The bill to abolish the upper house Of the
common council of Detroit has passed
both houses, and now awaits the Cover
Dor's signature. IL wipes the board OF
councilmen out of existence 80 days after
the adjournment of the legislature, and
creates in its stead a board of estimate
which meets once a year and consists OF
two members from each ward and five
members at large.
The house has unexpectedly defeated
| the appropriation of $1,000 for the Lake
Linden fire sufferers. 1t requires two
thirds vote and fell seven short of the nee
essary n mber. Efforts are being ade
to reconsider and pass the bin. The oppo
sltion was on the constitutional ground
that the time had expired for introducing
new bills.
The senate has passed the bill amending
the general banking law and establishing
the bureau Of banking.
Senator Crosby's tax lii was the special
order in the senate the other afternoon. IL
Is framed to revise the whole tax methods
SO as to substitute the county for the state
system of collecting delinquent taxes. 1t
was determined to debate and settle this
| general principle before reading the bill or
going into its details. Senator Crosby
opened the discussion with well consid-
cred argument in favor of the county
System fortified with statistics showing
the inequalities Of the present system.
| Howell, O'Reilly and German. Senators